The Doctrine of Justification by Faith

In the beginning of the fourth Chapter he confirms what he had before doctrinally declared, by a signal instance; and this was of the Justification of Abraham, who being the Father of the Faithful, his Justification is proposed as the pattern of ours, as he expressly declares vers. 22, 23, 24. ⟨p. 453⟩And some few things I shall observe on this instance in our passage unto the fifth Verse; where I shall fix our Discourse.

In the beginning of the fourth Chapter he confirms what he had before doctrinally declared, by a signal instance; and this was of the Justification of Abraham, who being the Father of the Faithful, his Justification is proposed as the pattern of ours, as he expresly declares vers. 22, 23, 24. ⟨p. 453⟩And some few things I shall observe on this instance in our passage unto the fifth Verse; where I shall fix our Discourse.

1. He denies that Abraham was justified by Works, vers. 2. And (1.) These Works were not those of the Jewish Law, which alone some pretend to be excluded from our Justification in this place. For they were the Works he performed some hundreds of years before the giving of the Law at Sinai: wherefore they are the Works of his Moral Obedience unto God that are intended. (2.) Those Works must be understood which Abraham had then, when he is said to be justified in the Testimony produced unto that purpose; But the Works that Abraham then had, were Works of Righteousness, performed in Faith and Love to God, Works of New Obedience under the Conduct and aids of the Spirit of God; Works required in the Covenant of Grace. These are the Works excluded from the Justification of Abraham. And these things are plain, express and evident, not to be eluded by any Distinctions or Evasions. All Abraham's Evangelical Works are expressly excluded from his Justification before God.

1. He denies that Abraham was justified by Works, vers. 2. And (1.) These Works were not those of the Jewish Law, which alone some pretend to be excluded from our Justification in this place. For they were the Works he performed some hundreds of years before the giving of the Law at Sinai: wherefore they are the Works of his Moral Obedience unto God that are intended. (2.) Those Works must be understood which Abraham had then, when he is said to be justified in the Testimony produced unto that purpose; But the Works that Abraham then had, were Works of Righteousness, performed in Faith and Love to God, Works of New Obedience under the Conduct and aids of the Spirit of God; Works required in the Covenant of Grace. These are the Works excluded from the Justification of Abraham. And these things are plain, express and evident, not to be eluded by any Distinctions or Evasions. All Abraham's Evangelical Works are expresly excluded from his Justification before God.